“What should the role of the state be in respect to the third sector? The State must first and foremost be an understanding and altruistic partner and create a good environment,” said the Estonian Head of State.
“The state is not the wise leader of civil society. Local governments, political parties and politicians must not harness the citizenry’s initiatives for their purposes. No one has the right to make the possibilities for voluntary activity dependent upon getting some service in return,” President Ilves stressed. “The state must not abuse the initiative and heartache of its citizens. If in September a grandparents’ organization in Tallinn came out to help schoolchildren safely cross the streets, this does not mean that concerned grandparents are to be the only ones concerned with traffic safety.”
“Instead of looking for scapegoats and shifting responsibility among various authorities, in the future, the state itself must immediately take action to help clean seawater and save birds that are in trouble,” said the President, adding “if every year thousands of our compatriots demonstrate their compassion and donate millions of kroons to children’s hospitals, our government still bears the responsibility for ensuring that our hospitals have the necessary medical instruments and equipment.”
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